Cabral impressed by Di Canio ambition

New Sunderland midfielder Cabral has praised manager Paolo Di Canio's ambition and said he had turned down approaches from clubs in the Champions League in order to join the Black Cats.

Cabral, 24, moved to the Stadium of Light from Swiss champions FC Basel on a free transfer and told the Sunderland Echo: "I had a lot of offers and a lot of clubs were interested in me, including some who were in the Champions League.

"But I think I wanted to choose a club where the coach was ambitious. I had two conversations with Di Canio and I got the sense that he wanted to achieve something here with the players he was looking to bring in.

"I wanted to come to Sunderland and play in the Premier League. I'd prefer to come to Sunderland than Arsenal, Everton or Tottenham where I might only be on the bench."

Cabral said he had been offered the chance to extend his stay at Basel but, after six successful years at the club, had decided the time was right to move on.

He added that he had enjoyed his first few days at Sunderland, saying training had been "hard but good". "There's a good atmosphere around the team," he said.